Editorial Reviews

Item is a must-have for any fan of this influential electronic dance pop group. This 2-DVD special addition contains two complete releases-a comprehensive music video compilation and a documentary. Disc 1, A Collection, features all of New Order's groundbreaking videos including "Bizarre Love Triangle," "Blue Monday," and "True Faith" plus alternate versions and brand-new videos for "Temptation" and "Ceremony" created just for this compilation. Disc 2, NewOrder Story is the complete documentary. This is the extended version with additional interviews and live footage-over two revealing hours available for the first time on DVD. Track Listings: Confusion, Perfect Kiss,Shellshock, State of the Nation, Bizarre Love Triangle, True Faith, Touched by the Hand of God, Blue Monday '88, Fine Time, Round & Round, Run, World in Motion, Regret, Ruined in a Day, World in Motion, Regret, Ruined in a Day, World, Spooky, 1963, Crystal, 60 Miles an Hour, Here To Stay, Krafty, Jetstream, Waiting for the Sirens Call, Round & Round-USA/Patty, Regret-Baywatch, Crystal-Gina Birch Version, Paris-Ceremony, Paris-Temptation, Live 1981-Temptation, Documentary.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

A preliminary thought. People should not write reviews unless they have actually seen the DVD. Some of the reviews on this page have factual errors. Fact: the video for WFTSC _is_ included (and it's a missed opportunity, IMHO). Fact: There are _no_ original videos of "Temptation" and "Ceremony" in addition to the new ones. Fact: The documentary is NOT a part of this DVD; it is a part of the two-DVD set called "ITEM." Fact: The documentary is 140 minutes, not 70. It is the complete, laser disc-only version of the documentary that was sliced down to 60 minutes for US release on VHS way back when.

Now to the review. The music video DVD contains impeccable transfers of nearly all of New Order's videos, with audio remastered to Dolby 5.1. As with nearly every product New Order has ever released, the quality is state-of-the-art. The visual transfers are clean, and the sound is stunning. This is particularly true of the later videos.

Many of the videos are classic mini-works of pop art. Jonathan Demme's video of "The Perfect Kiss" has never looked or sounded better. Ditto for "Blue Monday," "True Faith," and "Regret." Pick almost any video--and there are a ton of them here--and you'll get the sense that the director salivated at the chance to do his/her best work with this pop cultural icon.

I would not, however, buy this DVD standalone. You should purchase the boxed set, titled "Item," which also includes the extended documentary. The main difference between the extended documentary (included in the "Item" set) and the original, shorter VHS released in the US is the longer play given each music video. That's somewhat redundant, given better prints of the videos on the other DVD in the set.Read more ›

Digitally remastered, 5.1 Dolby surround, twenty-two videos. New Order has produced some of the most visually stunning videos in the past two decades, and while it's certainly taken long enough to compile them, it's well worth the wait. At two discs, we've not only the near-complete videography, but also the "New Order Story" (the entirety of disc two) clocking in at about seventy minutes, which is twice the length of the original VHS release.

After teasing us with the bonus DVD included with the redundant "International," we get the whole shebang.

Videos include:

Blue Monday

Confusion

The Perfect Kiss

Shellshock

State of The Nation

Bizarre Love Triangle

True Faith

Touched By The Hand Of God

Fine Time

Round & Round

Run

World In Motion

Regret

Ruined In A Day

World

Spooky

1963

Crystal

60 MAH (or MPH, whichever you prefer)

Here To Stay

Krafty

Jetstream

Included are two new bonus videos of both "Ceremony" and "Temptation" as well as their original versions.

A must-have for any New Order fan, and it'll fit well on the shelf next to 316 and 511.

For almost thirty years, the collective group known first as Joy Division and then New Order have made an impact on the world of pop music that is interesting and profound. Shunning the very trappings of fame that most bands would kill for, they have remained true to their own elusive muse.

The music videos they've made have always been stand-outs. From the early hectic nature of "Confusion" to the slickness of "Bizarre Love Triangle" and the explosive "True Faith" and the oddity of "World", the boys and girl of the band have never made a dull video. Sure, some aren't as great as others ("Shellshock" and "World In Motion" spring to mind), but the overall effect of having every NO music video ever made including the new ones from "Waiting For The Siren's Call" is more than worth the occasionally bad video.

And the additions of new videos for classic tracks like "Ceremony" and "Temptation" (as well the infamous "Regret" on the beach with the cast of Baywatch) is fantastic.

If that wasn't enough (and I'm assuming the reviews are for ITEM, the two-disc collection), you get the 1994 "NewOrderStory", which is by far one of the most interesting (if obtuse) "documentaries" ever committed to film. As weird and wonderful as the band themselves, it makes a perfect companion to the 2002 film "24 Hour Party People".

All in all, this is a must for any NO fan. The only grumbling point I would have is the non-inclusion of the few Joy Division live performances or the video for "Love Will Tear Us Apart", but the NO Story has two scenes from the band's early days with Ian Curtis as well as the video (which is interrupted by an annoying frontman from a certain band named after a US spy plane from the Sixties).

So if you love groundbreaking music videos and getting a look at one of the most enigmatic bands of the modern rock era, ITEM is for you. You can't go wrong with New Order.